The 41-year-old, who has been appointed the home’s new volunteers’ co-ordinator, said there are many people who do not realise what a wonderful place Donisthorpe is.

“To many it is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered, so we need to introduce them through volunteering,” he said.

And when the decision was made to take his father into the home, Marc confessed he was a little cautious.

He explained: “Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect and it was quite a scary time for us all.

“If I would have known in advance about the type of place to which my father was coming, the care and motivation to which he would have access, then I am certain I would not have worried.

“The way he has settled in has given him a new lease of life.”

Marc was so impressed that he volunteered his services.

A short time later he was offered the job of volunteers’ controller.

Marc has a solid background in social care.

Employed by Bradford Social Services in crisis intervention, he deals with young people and families.

He also has hands-on experience working with volunteers and helping to structure induction programmes.

“I am at Donisthorpe to see dad maybe six days a week so I have witnessed the great work volunteers do on a daily basis and it is awe-inspiring,” said Marc, who was full of praise for his predecessor, the late Audrey Manning.

“She really is a hard act to follow and I’m so proud to have been invited to follow in her footsteps.

“I just marvel at the incredible work she did over the years.

“The volunteering database she helped set in motion is priceless, the amount of time and effort she put into the project astounding.”

Already pencilled in are a few projects that Marc is keen to promote.

One of these will be to create a bank of volunteers who can be contacted at short notice.

His vision also extends to sending a positive message to younger people to interact with residents.

“What I want to do is to make links with an educational establishment such as the Grammar School, which we are presently working on.

“We also have a vibrant group, the Young Friends of Donisthorpe, which was set up earlier this year and I want them to be active too.

“We need to get the new image of Donisthorpe across to those young people who have never set foot in the place.

“Building on the foundation that already exists, I feel that things can only get better.”

Marc said he would like to engage volunteers to assist with more challenging residents and perhaps bring in new people to help with that.

Everybody is entitled to equal access to any of the activities, he claimed.

He added: “My plans for the future are mapped out but I’m not going to change the world — if it is not broken then don’t fix it is my motto.

“If we could get more young people involved with the existing volunteer structure then I couldn’t ask for more.

“That is my challenge and it is a realistic expectation.”